This 12-station light rail extension begins at the existing Auraria Station in downtown Denver and extends 12.1 miles west, parallel to West 6th Avenue, which carries the second highest traffic volume in the region. The West Corridor will serve Lakewood and other Westside activity centers, and will provide connections to the Denver Tech Center, the second largest employment center in the Denver metropolitan area. It will also facilitate development opportunities along the corridor. It will carry 28,700 average weekly riders, including 4,700 daily new riders by 2026. The project will cost a total of $593 million.

Portland, OR  South Corridor I-205/Portland Mall  $80 million in FY 2007

An 8.3-mile new light rail transit line consisting of two segments connecting to the existing MAX system. The first segment of the proposed project is a 6.5-mile line that runs north and south and parallel to I-205, connecting the Clackamas Regional Center in southeast Portland with the Gateway Transit Center east of downtown on TriMets existing light rail transit system. The second segment of the project is a 1.8-mile extension which would begin at the existing Rose Quarter Transit Center and terminate at Portland State University in south downtown Portland. This segment would run along the existing downtown bus mall on 5th and 6th Avenues. The new line will serve 46,500 weekday riders, including 9,400 daily new riders, by 2025. The project will cost a total of $557.4 million.

Washington County, OR  Wilsonville/Beaverton Commuter Rail  $27.6 million in FY 2007

This 14.7-mile, five station commuter rail line will connect to Tri-Mets existing Westside light rail line at the Beaverton Transit Center. The project will connect the rapidly growing suburban communities in the Wilsonville-Beaverton Corridor and alleviate existing and future traffic congestion in western Washington County. The line will carry 3,000 weekday riders, including 1,900 daily new riders, by 2020. The project will cost a total of $117.3 million.

Dallas  Northwest/Southeast Light Rail  $80 million in FY 2007

This 21-mile extension will provide fixed guideway transit service in heavily traveled transportation corridors. From Dallas central business district, the line will extend northwest 10.9 miles along I-45 to the city of Farmers Branch, and southeast 10.1 miles to Buckner Boulevard. The project will provide an alternative to congested highway facilities, increase transit capacity, improve connectivity to regional activity centers, and provide economic development opportunities. The line will carry nearly 46,000 average weekday riders, including 10,700 daily new riders, by 2025. The project will cost a total of $1.4 billion.

This 43-mile, eight-station commuter rail project will provide the areas of Pleasant View, Ogden, Clearfield, Layton, and Bountiful with direct access to downtown Salt Lake City. The commuter rail line will serve nearly 12,000 weekday riders, including 6,100 daily new riders, by 2025. The project will cost a total of $611.7 million.

Pending Full Funding Grant Agreements (2)

New York, NY Long Island Rail Road East Side Access  $300 million in FY 2007

The New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) are proposing a commuter rail project that will link LIRR passengers to a new passenger concourse in Grand Central Terminal on Manhattans east side. The 3.5-mile East Side Access (ESA) project, using an existing rail tunnel under the East River, will increase LIRR tunnel capacity across the East River and significantly relieve over-crowded conditions throughout the LIRR network. The project will provide direct access to the east side of Manhattan for users of the LIRR, who must currently transfer to other transit lines or walk to get to the east side from Penn Station. The ESA project will serve a portion of the strongest transit market in the country. By 2030, through reducing travel time to Manhattans east side and relieving overcrowding conditions on existing LIRR service to Penn Station, the East Side Access will carry more than 171,900 average weekday riders, including 27,300 daily new riders by 2030. The project will cost a total of $7.78 billion.

Pittsburgh, PA  North Shore Connector  $55 million in FY 2007

This project sponsored by the Port Authority of Allegheny County is a 1.5-mile extension of the regions 25-mile light rail transit system, which would connect downtown Pittsburghs Golden Triangle area to the citys North Shore area. The project is expected to cost $393 million. It will carry 15,800 average weekday riders, including 4,100 daily new riders by 2025.

Other projects to be considered for funding (5)

The Presidents budget sets aside a total of $102 million to be available for additional projects. The following projects will be considered for funding contingent upon further progress and continued qualification under New Starts criteria and other requirements.

New York  Second Avenue Subway

This 2.3-mile project on Manhattans east side will provide extended Broadway subway service between Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan, West Midtown, and East Harlem. The project is expected to serve 213,000 riders each day by 2030. The project is estimated to cost $4.9 billion.

An 11.6-mile extension of the regions Metrorail system from the existing East Falls Church Metrorail station through the large Tysons Corner employment and retail center to Wiehle Avenue in the town of Reston. The extension will serve more than 77,000 passengers a day by 2030. The project is estimated to cost $1.8 billion.

Norfolk, VA  Norfolk Light Rail

Hampton Roads Transit is proposing to construct a 7.4-mile light rail transit line within the city of Norfolk that is intended to serve as the initial segment of a regional rapid transit system. The project is expected to serve 6,500 riders each day by 2025. The project is estimated to cost $203.7 million.

Seattle  University Link

Sound Transit is proposing to implement an extension of the Central Link light rail transit Initial Segment currently under construction from the segments northern terminus at Westlake Station in downtown Seattle to the University of Washington, 3.1 miles to the northeast. The University Link corridor is the most densely developed residential and employment area in the Central Puget Sound region and the state of Washington. The extension will serve more than 40,000 weekday riders by 2030. The project is estimated to cost $1.7 billion.

Washington, DC  Largo Metrorail Extension

Sections 3043(a)(31) and 3043(j) of SAFETEA-LU authorizes the inclusion of an additional 52 rapid rail cars in the Largo Metrorail Extension. FTA included proposed funding for the cars in this section even though the original Full Funding Grant Agreement has been completed and revenue service for the 3.1-mile, two-station extension from Addison Road Station to Largo Town Center in Prince Georges County, Maryland, has begun.

Existing Full Funding Grant Agreements (16)

Continued investment in projects that have successfully passed the FTAs standards and for which Full Funding Grant Agreements have been put in place:

The Central Phoenix East Valley Light Rail project is a 19.6-mile light rail system running from the Spectrum Mall area in Phoenix, through the downtown areas of Phoenix and Tempe, to Mesa. The project, overseen by Valley Metro Rail, will provide access to major employment centers including the Phoenix and Tempe central business districts, Sky Harbor Airport, and Arizona State University (ASU); and large special event venues including Civic Plaza Convention Center, Bank One Ballpark, America West Arena, and ASUs Sun Devil Stadium. The project will cost $1.4 billion, with a federal New Starts share of $587 million.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is constructing a 5.9-mile light rail line in the East Side Corridor, connecting downtown Los Angeles with East Lost Angeles. The project will cost $898.8 million, with a federal New Starts share of $490.7 million. It is expected to carry 23,000 daily riders by 2020.

Denver  Southeast Corridor Light Rail  $80 million in FY 2007

The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) and the Colorado Department of Transportation are constructing the Southeast Corridor Light Rail project, dubbed T-REX. T-REX is a 19.1-mile double-track light rail transit (LRT) extension to the existing system, which follows I-25 from Broadway in Denver to Douglas County, with a spur along I-225. The total project cost is $879.27 million, with a federal New Starts share of $525 million. It is expected to carry 38,100 daily riders by 2020.

Chicago  Ravenswood Line Extension  $40 million in FY 2007

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is reconstructing platforms and stations on the existing Ravenswood (Brown) Line to accommodate eight-car trains, along with other related capital improvements. The Brown Line extends approximately 9.1 miles from the Kimball Terminal on the north side of Chicago through the Loop Elevated in downtown Chicago, and includes 19 stations. The total project cost is $529.91 million, with a federal New Starts share of $245.52 million. It is expected to carry 68,000 daily riders by 2020.

The project sponsored by the Charlotte Area Transit System is a 9.6-mile light rail transit line extending from the citys central business district to Interstate 485 in south Mecklenburg County near the South Carolina state line. It will carry 18,000 weekday riders by 2025. This is the areas first light-rail line. The total project cost is $426.8 million, with a federal New Starts share of $192.9 million.

The New Jersey Transit Corporation is constructing an extension to the Hudson-Bergen Waterfront Light Rail Transit System. The project includes a 5.1-mile, six station extension from Hoboken Terminal to the Tonnelle Avenue park-and-ride lot in North Bergen and a one-mile, one-station extension south from 34th Street to 22nd Street in Bayonne. The total project cost is $1.21 billion, with a federal New Starts share of $500 million. It is expected to carry 34,900 daily riders by 2020.

Seattle  Central Link (Initial Segment)  $80.0 million in FY 2007

The Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit) is constructing a 13.9 mile light rail line that will run from Convention Place through downtown Seattle to South 154th Street in the city of Tukwila. The total project cost is $2.44 billion, with a federal New Starts share of $500 million. It is expected to carry 42,500 daily riders in 2020.

The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and San Mateo County Transit District have completed an 8.7-mile heavy rail extension from BARTs Colma Station through Colma, San Bruno to Millbrae, with a station at San Francisco International Airport. The total project cost is $1.55 billion, with a federal New Starts share of $750 million. Daily riders in October 2004 totaled 27,000.

San Diego  Mission Valley East Extension  $806,654 in FY 2007

The Metropolitan Transit Development Board is constructing a 5.9-mile light rail transit extension, from its current terminus east of I-15 to the City of La Mesa. The line will include a connection to the existing Orange Line near Baltimore Drive. The project will cost $430.96 million, with a federal New Starts share of $329.96 million. It is expected to carry 10,800 daily riders by 2015.

San Diego  Oceanside-Escondido Rail Corridor  $684,040 in FY 2007

The North County Transit District is converting an existing 22-mile freight rail corridor into a commuter rail running from the coastal city of Oceanside, through the cities of Vista and San Marcos, portions of unincorporated San Diego, to Escondido. The project will cost $351.52 million, with a federal New Starts share of $152.1 million. It is expected to carry 19,000 daily riders by 2020.

Chicago  Douglas Branch Reconstruction  $1.6 million in FY 2007

The Chicago Transit Authority is reconstructing 6.6 miles of the existing Douglas Branch of CTAs heavy rail Blue Line. The total project cost is $482.68 million, with a federal New Starts share of $320.10 million. It is expected to carry 6,000 daily new riders by 2020.

Chicago  Union Pacific West Line Extension  $1.3 million in FY 2007

Metra, a commuter rail operator in the Chicago metropolitan region, is constructing an 8.5-mile extension to the existing 35-mile Union Pacific West Line. The project would extend the line approximately 8.5 miles west from Geneva to Elburn, Illinois. The project will cost $134.6 million, with a federal New Starts share of $80.8 million. It is expected to carry 4,300 daily riders by 2020.

Baltimore  Central Light Rail Double-Track  $482,822 in FY 2007

The Maryland Mass Transit Administration is upgrading 9.4 miles of designated areas of the Baltimore Central Light Rail Line. The project includes double-tracking eight sections of the existing 29-mile line and new platforms at four existing stations. The total project cost is $153.7 million, with a federal New Starts share of $120 million. It is expected to carry 44,000 daily riders by 2020.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is constructing a 9.4-mile, 35 station bus rapid transit line along Euclid Avenue from Public Square in downtown Cleveland to the Stokes-Windermere Rapid Transit Station (Red Line) in East Cleveland. The total project cost is $168.4 million, with a federal New Starts share of $82.2 million. It is expected to carry 39,000 daily riders by 2020.

Portland  Interstate MAX Light Rail Extension  $542,940 in FY 2007

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon completed construction of a 5.8-mile extension of its light rail transit line known locally as the Interstate Metropolitan Area Express (Interstate MAX). The Interstate MAX line extends existing light rail service north from the Rose Quarter and the Oregon Convention Center to North Portland neighborhoods and the Metropolitan Exposition Center. The project commenced operations in 2004. The total project cost is $350 million, with a federal New Starts share of $257.5 million.

San Juan, PR  Tren Urbano  $2.7 million in FY 2007

The Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority completed construction of a 10.7-mile heavy rail system between Bayamón Centro and the Sagrado Corazon area of Santurce in San Juan. The total project cost under a planned budget revision will be $2.25 billion, with a federal New Starts share of $307.41 million. The system began limited weekend service in December 2004 and full daily revenue operations in June 2005. It is expected to carry 113,000 daily riders by 2010.

Before roads, before railroads, New England traveled by sea and up its rivers. And waterborne trade has been a regional strength ever since Yankee clipper ships raced around the world and opened the first China trade.

Can water transport solve some of the regions modern-day transportation challenges? The answer should be yes. Take the issue of paralyzing congestion exacerbated by thousands of trucks along I-95 in southwestern Connecticut. Connecticut has been working for years on the idea of feeder barge service from Newark to New Haven or Bridgeport, allowing freight to bypass the most crowded Connecticut-New York freeway stretch. After prolonged political wrangling, Bridgeport was finally selected, but advocates are asking impatiently when the Connecticut Department of Transportation will finally get the service launched.

Also still to be resolved: Whats New Englands ocean freight plan for the century? Shipments from around the world must now come in from remote points -- either the Port of New York and New Jersey or Halifax, Nova Scotia. Is that satisfactory? Maybe so -- but maybe not. New Englands apparently never had the serious discussion it should about deepwater facilities at Rhode Islands Quonset, a site potentially able to offload double-stacked containers onto rail for region- and continent-wide distribution.

And what of passenger service by water? Historically, it played a big role from New York all the way up to Maine. A dozen or so ferry services do still operate -- Boston-Gloucester and Boston-Provincetown, Providence-Newport, New London and Bridgeport across Long Island Sound, for example. The MBTA offers Boston Harbor service including connection to Logan Airport. Ferries run across Lake Champlain, connecting Vermont and New York State. New high-speed catamaran service connects Bar Harbor with Yarmouth in Nova Scotia in just three hours.

But the potential is far greater -- serious high speed ferry service from Fairfield County to Manhattan, for example. Former Maine Transportation Secretary John Melrose says hes enthusiastic about water transport because it fosters development in core communities, has a low cost (which is zero) for maintenance of way, and has an extensive track record elsewhere in the world.

For all the wonders of modern technology, the basic old-fashioned idea of personal travel by sea and river connection seems like a natural fit for New Englands character, tourism, and economic future.

Destination: Freedom is partially funded by the Surdna Foundation, and other contributors.

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